Ordered these in hot pink, tons of compliments on color, and I am not a pink girl. I loved the rise on them as well. I'm usually a 26 in Current Elliot, and went down to a 25, but probably could have gone down to a 24 as well. These definitely stretch, so you can def. go lower than even your usual size in these. Since they're Current/Elliott no issues with being to tight at waist!